I picked up a 3913 (SN: VDF7121) this weekend with a 4 mags and a Bianchi 717 holster. All show honest wear, but not abused. I have never owned one and I'm wondering what people think of this piece. The only issue it seems to have is the left grip panel has a little play at the top, where the slide hold open detent goes against the metal part under the grip panel. Is this a serious issue, or should I not worry about it? I have not fired it yet, but It is going to the range soon. I thought $300 was a decent price to pay, but a little range time is neede to prove that.

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A great gun in ALL regards. In the opinion of many on this forum the 3913 is the ultimate Concealed carry handgun. I am one of those and carry one daily.
As a third generation S&W it has a life time warranty so the concern you have can be taken care by S&W if need be. I don't think it does however.

You are going to love this!

Randy

Congrats on your 3913! You got the finest CCW single stack 9mm made by anyone, for a steal of a price!

Best pistol to come out of S&W. They haven't made anything as nice since. Go shoot it and tell us how much you like it after that! Regards 18DAI

The Smith 3913 is regarded by many experts as one of the very best semiautos S&W ever made, if not the best of all. It's compact, light, accurate, and unfailingly reliable. In addition, it's very slim, making it ideal for concealed carry. Its aluminum/stainless construction allows it to resist corrosion quite nicely as well. If I were forced to carry a 9mm pistol discretely for self-defense, it would be the only one I'd consider. Some are more compact, some have polymer frames, yadda yadda yadda, but this one really seems to be the optimum solution if you hafta have a concealable 9mm. Here's mine. It's a 3913NL (the "NL" indicates it does not have the Ladysmith logo), identical to the Ladysmith 3913. It has the tapered dust cover, ostensibly making it a tad easier to stuff into a holster or under a belt, and esthetically, I find this style more pleasing. I've equipped this one with tritium night sights, otherwise it's completely stock. It's never failed to go "bang" with any type of ammo I've fed it, from hardball to Super Vel hollow points.

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

I have a 3913NL and a 6906. Both are great for carry. The 39 is slimmer and slightly more easy to conceal, the 69 has greater capacity. Both have been flawless. Unfortunately, I have to part with one of them and I hate it. You have yourself a fantastic handgun and one of S&W's finest.

You got a great price. A great price.
The 3913 is considered by many to be one of the best single stack 9mms ever.

Thanks for all the input. I did take it to the range today with a variety of 9mm factory ammo and it functioned perfectly with everything. The Federal 147 gr Hydro Shok showed up poorly in accuracy, buy everything else printed great. I will try some other HP ammo the next time to find out what it really likes.

Likewise, I have the 3913 and it is a great gun anyway you look at it. You also got it at a great price.

that's a real nice one boss chief!

You've got a handsome-looking, small powerhouse there, Mr. Chief. Never owning a compact S&W single-column 9mm, but having owned a Model 469 in the mid-nineties, it too, had a "wiggly grip" exactly where yours is. Other than it being a personal quirk, I learned to live with it. It never effected the performance of the handgun in the least.

You also got a heck-of-a-deal on the purchase price. Well done!

-Jim

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JWS3
1SG, USA (Retired)

My two favorite semi autos

I purchased a 3913 on this forum and like it very much. First trip to the range was a little disappointing, it shot low all day. Second trip to the range I adjusted My sighting to a lolipop style with the front sight lined above and centered. Shot much better, any tips and or pointers on improved sight alinement, please tell Me. Thanks Steve

Filing down the front sight by increments should raise the point of impact commensurately. However, I'd try different types of ammo that may shoot more to your point of aim first.

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

You got a great price on a great gun, especially with all the magazines. The magazines typically run 40 bucks a pop from Smith and Wesson's website and these guns will typically only come with one.

I can only parrot what has already been said. My 3913 gets more range time than any of my other 9mm handguns. Nice price too. I paid $329 for mine with only 2 mags.

Nice pistol. If you haven't already, do a search of 3rd Gen Pistols and or Fastbolt. Fastbolt is a retired Armorer and has many infomrative posts.

Great price on an even greater gun! I can't believe I have one, stumbled upon it not knowing how good these really are. LGS had it and I traded a Ruger LCP straight across. It is my daily carry gun now. Good find and enjoy it much.

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Endeavor to persevere. <><

Man thats a great gun for sure I use to have one and now I wished I would have kept it, im gonna have to keep my eye open for another one...

Can't beat $300 for that gun. You done good. I have a lot of choices and could pick one of many each day but I almost always leave the house with this one.

I appreciate the comment on the "wiggly grip". Apparently it's not a problem. It sure doesn't cause problems with function. I can't get this thing to malfunction, after several range sessions.

The wife discovered the 3913 last week and it was love and first sight. It came home with us and she was anxious to get to the range the following day. Nothing but smiles.

She fired another 100+ rounds yesterday and still loves it. In fact, today she suggested I sell her beloved Sig P6!!!

I was so impressed with her Lady Smith, I spent a couple of days searching the web for a 3913NL. Bingo. Just waiting for the gun to get to my FFL.

Will it replace my Kahr PM40 as my #1 CCW? I'm not so sure because the little PM40 is a serious powerhouse and a lot lighter and smaller which makes it an excellent CCW. The PM40s major shortcoming is the flip side of its power - substantial recoil that affects follow-up shots.

OTOH, it might just replace my Kahr K9 as my #2 CCW. The 3913 is an ounce lighter, holds one more round, reloads in the field much more reliably and I generally prefer the DA/SA triggers, even over the Kahr's excellent striker trigger. The Kahr's biggest advantage is the laser. Unfortunately, Crimson Trace only offers lasers for the full-size double stack 3rd generation S&Ws.

I'll just have to live with it for a while before I can make that personal decision. In any case, I'm confident that the 3913 is on a very short list of the best possible CCWs.

A great pistol.

I have the 908, (a few less frills) than the 3913, and love it, can't get it to malfunction.and when carrying IWB, it's the one gun I sometimes forget I am wearing. Try some Hogue grips, I prefer those to the factory ones. good luck with it.

The 39XX series cannot be beat for semi auto CCW (except perhaps by the Kahr PM9)

I had a TSW model with the rail. I now have a 908-safety/decocker on left side only gives it a more narrow profile and easier to carry.

Surprisingly even though the 908 is among the value line, it and the 457 I have posses probably the best trigger actions of all my 3rd generations.

I just bought one a few days ago. I like it a lot. Yiogo

heres pic of mine. i got 3914tsw 4513tsw and cqb

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I changed the hammer assembly on my 3913 to a 59 series hammer. I want a single action shot through the whole string. 59 hammer easier to get hold of. Put the 3913 hammer in the original box.

Great gun and great price. You don't see many for that $$$$.
I got one and was not satisfied until I got a 2nd. I also have two 6906s.

I to agree with all the rest of the replies, great gun, great price very reliable. I have had this gun for about 6 years never have any problems, fires as straight today as it did when I got it.

great guns!

/c

A great gun, perfect for CCW

I bought a 3913 in about 1998. It was the first 3rd gen S&W auto our armors had seen with MIM hammer and trigger.

Of all the 3rd gen S&W autos, the 3913 is by far my favorite. I have larger hands, so I found the addition of Hogue rubber grips were worth the slight increase in size to me. I carried this gun as an off-duty gun for years.

My 3913 now is in semi-retirement. It lives in the utility drawer in my kitchen. Great gun to slip in my pants to take the garbage out in the middle of the night.

Mine shows some slight wear marks on the edges of the slide. I view this as character marks, and would never consider refinishing it.

Great guns for CCW. I own several guns to include a Walther PPS 9mm. I prefer my 3913 to the Walther though.

Paid $400 for mine; had Novak put on night sights.

I carry it, or a 4040PD all summer. While Glocks have their place ( i have the 19 and the two10mms) they can't come close to CC in the summer.